Assistant/Associate Director, Strategic Volunteer Initiatives

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Overview
Reporting to the Director for Reunion Giving and Strategic Volunteer Initiatives and exercising a high degree of independence, the Assistant/Associate Director for Strategic Volunteer Initiatives serves as a key member of the Strategic Volunteer Initiatives team, developing and leading project plans that advance the university’s fundraising goals and overall department priorities.  In particular, the Assistant/Associate Director has the following responsibilities:

• Develops overarching and individual volunteer strategies and partners with gift officers to work directly and closely with volunteers, who include many of the University’s most supportive donors and university citizens.  Serves as a liaison for regional teams and priority advisory groups as assigned by the Director. Partners with frontline staff to design, lead, and execute ongoing volunteer task force/regional/priority committee management, including partnering on gift solicitation strategies, programmatic support, event strategies support, and any necessary volunteer support and follow up. Travels as needed to execute strategies and meet directly with volunteer groups and donors. 

• Partners on the development of strategic directions and articulates those to project participants, partnering with internal and external stakeholders, such as gift officers, other staff, and volunteers, to achieve project/initiative objectives. Develops goals and metrics for volunteer teams; monitoring results, assessing effectiveness, and recommending adjusted strategies and tactics when warranted.

• Creates strategy for, develops, and oversees ongoing communications to support the objectives of volunteer groups, including training, briefing, and motivating committee members. Develops volunteer resources and training materials. Responsible for developing and implementing volunteer education events, including training, briefing, and motivating committee members. 

• Designs, directs, manages, and executes a wide variety of projects and special initiatives by anticipating opportunities or needs, outlining project plans, determining communication strategies, supervising progress, and taking necessary actions. Sets and maintains quality standards for each project.

• Drafts/edits and/or oversees the drafting/editing of a wide range of written materials and presentations, interprets and organizes complex data sets, and plans and executes communications and activities with various volunteer groups. 

• Identifies full range of reporting needs and designs and produces reports to extract relevant information from the University’s alumni/development information systems. Effectively leverages ad-hoc reporting and comprehensive analysis/interpretation skills.

• Fosters strong relationships with and serves as a liaison to a variety of administrative units across campus.  

The following principal responsibilities are generic in nature.  Applicants will find the information in this position focus to be most relevant to the needs of the position.

Required Skills and Abilities

1. Proven ability to directly manage volunteers. Skilled in developing and implementing effective strategies to recruit, train, and steward volunteers. Demonstrated ability collaborating with colleagues to determine donor philanthropic interests and volunteer engagement activities. Ability to promote various giving vehicles which may include planned giving.

2. Strong written communication skills with the proven ability to draft, format, proofread, and edit communications. Strong oral communication skills and proficiency in communicating appropriately with multiple constituencies. Demonstrated organizational capabilities, strong attention to detail. Proven ability to initiate and complete projects independently, proactively and creatively.

3. Professionalism, maturity, and a collaborative approach to work, with the ability to maintain confidentiality. Highly capable independent worker and flexible team member with willingness to work some irregular hours.

4. Outstanding organizational and interpersonal skills. Proficiency working with technology. Ability to manage diverse, simultaneous tasks while attending to details and follow-through. Ability to work well under pressure in a fast-paced, high-volume environment. Initiative and ability to work independently with integrity while demonstrating a results-oriented work ethic.

5. Strong written and verbal communication skills to communicate effectively with alumni volunteers and colleagues about fundraising priorities, giving procedures, and university business. Ability to initiate and maintain direct communication with alumni.

Preferred Skills and Abilities

1. Demonstrated track record with establishing and achieving strategic objectives, donor relationship and volunteer management, and project management, particularly in higher education.

2. Experience utilizing a fundraising database.

3. Experience supporting and working effectively with senior leadership. 

Principal Responsibilities

1. Leads key projects that that advance university fundraising goals and overall department priorities. Sets and ensures quality standards for each project. 2. Communicates project vision, strategic direction and expectations to team members and stakeholders. 3. Defines project scope, goals and deliverables that support business goals in collaboration with senior management and stakeholders. Manages changes in project scope, identifies potential risks, and devises contingency plans 4. Develops best practices for project execution and management. 5. Serves as critical resource to other administrative units such as the Investments Office, the Office of the Provost, and the Office of the Secretary and Vice President for Student Life. 6. Maintains a high level of knowledge of priorities relating to special/critical initiatives, and serves as a content resource to development colleagues and other fundraising units. Promotes opportunities for communicating fundraising needs to those who work with potential donors. 7. Outlines, drafts and edits a wide-range of written materials on behalf of the Vice President for Alumni Affairs and Development as well as the Associate Vice President for Development and Campaign Director. 8. Serves as an advisor and, where appropriate, staff support, to campaign related initiatives. Provides strategic advice and counsel to the Associate Vice President for Development and Campaign Director on project campaign planning and implementation. 9. Provides strategic and operational guidance to school/unit development operations. 10. Manages support staff for the Office of the Vice President for Alumni Affairs and Development as it relates to fundraising initiatives and executive support. 11. Performs other duties as assigned. Required Education and Experience Bachelor’s degree and seven years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Job Posting Date

09/16/2026

Job Category

Professional

Bargaining Unit

NON

Compensation Grade

Administration & Operations

Compensation Grade Profile

Manager; Program Leader (P6)

Salary Range

$90,000.00 - $165,750.00

Time Type

Full time

Duration Type

Staff

Work Model

Hybrid

Background Check Requirements

All candidates for employment will be subject to pre-employment background screening for this position, which may include motor vehicle, DOT certification, drug testing and credit checks based on the position description and job requirements. All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of the background check. For additional information on the background check requirements and process visit "Learn about background checks" under the Applicant Support Resources section of Careers on the It's Your Yale website.

Health Requirements

Certain positions have associated health requirements based on specific job responsibilities. These may include vaccinations, tests, or examinations, as required by law, regulation, or university policy.

Posting Disclaimer

Salary offers are determined by a candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education in relation to the position requirements, along with the role’s grade profile and current internal and external market conditions.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the essential functions that will be required of the position and should not be construed as a declaration of specific duties and responsibilities of the position. Employees will be assigned specific job-related duties through  their hiring department.

The University is committed to basing judgments concerning the admission, education, and employment of individuals upon their qualifications and abilities and seeks to attract to its faculty, staff, and student body qualified persons from a broad range of backgrounds and perspectives. In accordance with this policy and as delineated by federal and Connecticut law, Yale does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment against any individual on account of that individual’s sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, disability, status as a special disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam era or other covered veteran.

Inquiries concerning Yale's Policy Against Discrimination and Harassment may be referred to the Office of Institutional Equity and Accessibility (OIEA).

Note

Yale University is a tobacco-free campus.